Peru approves $1 million contract to install ice chiller unit

Illinois Valley residents have been enjoying the winter activities offered at Washington Park in Peru this season, and that enjoyment may expand as soon as November.

The Peru City Council approved Monday a $1,070,499 contract with SKI Sealcoating & Maintenance to install new chiller units for the ice rink.

Parks and Recreation Director Adam Thorson said once the chiller units are installed the rink can be open whenever the temperature is 50 degrees or cooler.

“The goal is November,” he said, suggesting around Thanksgiving time.

With the new chiller unit, temperature will no longer be a concern. Thorson said he believes the lead time on a chiller unit is about 40 weeks, which will put the city at mid- January.

“Overall it’s going to be a very attractive area in Peru.”

—  Adam Thorson,

Thorson said the rink has only been open around 20 days this year, but noted it has been packed for skating and hockey during that time. The city was able to set up the rink at the end of November as the forecast was in the high 20s.

Last year, the rink never opened. In 2022, the rink was open for seven days because of the weather.

Thorson said he wanted to touch on how big of an attraction and hit the ice rink will be once it’s completed as well as Washington Park itself as whole.

“To have ice from November through March, more than likely, that’s the bigger part of the project obviously and then the bocce ball court and the exercise equipment and just making it accessible to everybody for full usage.”

“So, overall it’s going to be a very attractive area in Peru,” Thorson said.

At the end of January, the city announced it was awarded a $600,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Grant, a program administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, to make improvements around the Washington Park ice rink and make it available to the public despite weather conditions.

The city will match the grants with a 50/50 contribution.

Mayor Ken Kolowski said once completed Washington Park will be a year-round gathering spot for everyone to enjoy.

“I think this is a great addition to our community,” he said. “Just to see kids out like this and next year Adam’s already thinking there’ll be theme nights, there’ll be all kinds of things we can go over there.”

Alderman Tom Payton said he agreed and was really excited and happy for how the Washington Park improvements were turning out.

“Just to let you know this million dollars comes from hotel/motel, so we’re not affecting any other projects — this has been planned for … that is what that fund is for to take care of things like this. So, looking forward to great things in that park.”